Method and apparatus for closing metallic packages



Oct. 1, 1920. D. GEORGE 1,730,070

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLOSING METALLIC PACKAGES Filed Feb. 25, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet l.

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METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLOSING METALLIC PACKAGES Filed Feb. 25,. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 auge Oct. 1, 1929. D. GEORGE 1,730,070

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLOSING METALLIC PACKAGES Filed Feb. 25', 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet s I 4! l O is L, 5 E -i L ij"* E /-20 O 5 o' l 5 ii i ii 21 5 fi l I HQ KW I High.

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Oct. 1, 1929. v D, GEORGE 1,730,070

METHOD :mn APPARATUS FOR .cnosms uannuc amass Filed Feb. 25, 1928 5Sheets-Sheet 4 Illll Oct. 1, 1929.

' Filed Feb. 25. 1928 D. GEORGE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLOSING METALLIC PACKAGES FigQ.

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7 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 1, 1929 UN IT'ED" STATE-S DAVID GEORGE, or SWANSEA, WALES Application:fi1ed..February. 25, 1928-, Serial No This invention relates to the packing of relatively heavy articles, such as tinplates, terneplates, blackplates andthe like, and has for its-object to provide improved forms of packing and apparatusfor closing such packing, whereby the packing of articles of the kind described will be considerably cheaper than; hitherto, while the package itself will bemore reliable than those at present on the 16 market.

The invention consists in a method of forming or closing a package or. container comprisingvproviding, a tubular member of sheet metal, inserting into the open end of such a tubular member an end closing plate having outwardly extending flanges so that such flanges lie parallel with the marginal portions of the walls of such member and roll ing together said flanges and marginal portions.

According to the present invention the package or container comprises a tubular member formed of tinplate, terneplate or other suitable sheet metal, and end closing plates adapted to close such member, the edges of the tubular member and of the end plates being rolled together whereby the package is closed.

- The-packagemay comprise the sole covering or may form the inner or outer casing in forms of packing such as described in my prior patents, or other forms of packing comprising inner and outer cases.

p The improved package may be'hermetically n sealedby soldering the rolled edges and the joints.

The invention also consists in means for rolling theedges of the ends ofthe container comprising a member or closing tool provided with a roll-forminggroove (or grooves) and adapted simultaneously to roll all the edges at one end of the package.

The parts of the tubular member and end plates forming the rolls :may be suitably cut to form mitred rolls at the corners of the package.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 shows in perspective the upper end of a tubular enclosing member according to the invention.

. 257,027, and in Great Britain lilarch s, met

Figure 2 shows in perspective an end clos ing plate therefor. H I I I I Figures 3,4 and 5 are respectively side elea vation, front'elevat-ion and plan of a machine for. closing the cases according to the invention.

Figures 6,7 and 8 are respectively sectional, side and end elevations and plan of a closing. too

FiguresQand 10 are sectional elevations showing the method of closing a case vaccordlng to the lnvention.

In carrying the invention into eifect ac cordlng to one term, as nlthe manufacture of an inner hermetically sealed casing. for conin to form the bead or roll by which theends of. the case are secured, (2) for the thickness of any bufier or bufiers and/or packingstrip or packing, strips which maybe intended'to be inserted inside the case, and (3) for the thickness of the end closing plate.

The longer dimension of the cross'section' of the tube is equal-to the width of the plates intended to be packed in the case, plus the thickness of any buffers or packing. strips which may be intended to be inserted between the edges of the plates, and the sides of the case. The shorter dimension 'of thef crosssection of the tube is equal to the aggregate thickness of the bundle of plates intended to be packed in the case plus similar allowances if any buffer or buffers and/or packing strip or strips and/or sheet or sheets are usedon the top and/or bottom of the bundle of plates intended to be packed in the case.) a H The seam indicated diagrammatically at 12 formed in making-the tube by joining the edges of the sheet'out of which the tube is formed may be an ordinary double seam, formed by any known method and may be located along one of the wider sides of the tube and parallel to the axis of the tube as shown or along one of the narrower sides of the tube.

Before the tube is formed, the sheet out of which it is formed has four more or less V-shaped nicks 13 cut in it on each side in such positions that the bottoms of the Vs come exactly at the corners of the tube when formed, as shown in Figure 1., The depth of the nick is about an inchbutma y vary according to circumstances,

The position of the bottom of the nick may vary with'regard to the finished roll and may be at the level of the centre of the roll or at the level of the top of the roll.

The edges of the sheet which will form the ends of the tube are preferably provided with an appreciable burr or bevel or are tipped on the side of the plate which will form the inside of the tube, in order that when the tube is formed the outside surfaces of the extreme ends of the case will be bent inwards, as will be seen at 14 Figure 9. This can be effected by means of a tipping machineor by cutting the plates with a shears having a suitable small clearance between blades, or by cutting the plates in a shears having its shear-blades moving in a plane which is at an acute angle with the plane of the body of the plate. The effect of the burr,

or of shearing at such an angle, is to form a short bevel on the edgeof the tube.

For the purpose of closing the first end of the tube (which end may, for convenience, be referred to as the bottom end) an end closing plate 15 (Figure 2) is provided, which is stamped out of a sheet of tinplate, terneplate or other suitable sheet metal. The length of the strip forming the end plate is equal to the greater dimension in cross section of the tube, and the width of the strip is equal to the lesser dimension in cross section of the tube, plus a margin of, say, ,th to ths of an inch all round. I

More or less V-shaped nicks 16 are cut out of the corners of the strip forming the end plates and the sides 17 and ends 18 are turned up at an angle of about 115 to the plane of the strip, as will be seen in Figure 9 with re-" spect to the sides 17. The junction of the sides and ends with the main portion may be a slight curve. The edges of these upturned parts are tipped or bent inwards as shown at 19 Figure 9 in a similar manner as the edges of the tube. 1

The making of the nicks in the corners of end plates, the bending up of the margins and single operation in a suitable press.

The rectangular tube is placed upon a former 20, see Figures 3, 4 and 5 over which the tube fits. For a couple of inches down from the top of the former the former is a fairly close fit for the inside of the tube. The

position of the tube, by regulating the height of the former, or by placing a ridge or stops (adjustable or otherwise) near the foot of the former, is such that the top of the tube is about to 4 of an inch above the level of the top of the former.

The long sides of the tube are adapted to be gripped by grippers, or jaws-'21 capable of being brought into close contact with, and exerting pressure upon, the tube, and pressingit against the former, the object of the grippers being to preventj,;the tube being forced down or buckled by the vertical pressure exerted upon it in the course of subsequent operations.

Thegrip .upon the tube may be ensuredby having slight ridges or slight circular or oval bosses or longitudinal projections on the jaws of the gripper and corresponding grooves or circular or oval depressions on the grippers are forced towards each otherfito' gripthe tube. The outer surfaces 23 of the grippers adjacent the bevelled part 1 are adapted to liesubstantially parallel when in the'gripping position, in which position the surfaces contactwith suitable surfaces on the closing tool whereby the grip is maintained for a suitable period.

' Thegripper jaws are pivoted at 24 upon a suitable base member 25 carrying the former which base member in turn is pivoted upon a shaft 26 or trunnions whereby the apparatus may be tilted to a suitable position for insertion or removal of 'a tube, such pivoting of the apparatus removing it temporarily from the path of th'e'closing tool. The base member is shaped at 27 to permit the pivotal movement. Springs 28 are provided for normally holding the grippers 21 away from the former a slight distance, for example, about 4 th of an inch.

Instead of the springs 28 the grippers or parts therein may extend below the pivots and be coupled by a common tension spring. The opening and closing of the grippers may be effected by utilizing the pivotal movement of the base member 25 carrying the grippers, whereby the latter are opened or closed by means of'eccentrics, cams, levers or'the like.

Suitable adjustable stops may be provided to locate the gripper aws and the base member'in the desired positions.

One of the grippers 21 is grooved to actreat se 'c'ornmodate "the longitudinal double seam on the tube. If desired, both grippers may be grooved so :as to facilitate the insertion of the tube in the former.

When the tube has been put into position on the former an end plate is put into the end of the tube so as to rest on the top of the former, see Figure '9, the edges of the end piece being turned upwards and being about t'h to /gthof an inch below the upper edge of the tube and the nicks in the end piece corresponding with the nicks in the corners of the tube.

It will be understood that the nicks in the tube and end plate will substantially coincide.

The closing tool, mounted in the bracket 40, is then brought down upon the top of the case by a fly-press or by cams or cranks or by other suitable means.

he closing tool, see Figures 6, 7 and 8, is provided with roll-forming grooves 29 which may be of semicircular or other suitable shape in cross section, and which operate to cause the upstanding ends of the tube and the upstanding edges of the end piece, to bend over and form complete or nearly complete rolls along the sides and ends of the tube as shown in Figure 10. i

The tipping of the tube and end plate facilitates the bending over and rolling of the upstanding ends.

The closing or roll-forming tool is provided with downwardly extending side pieces 30 along the longer sides thereof, the lowest part of which, for about an inch, is tapered at 31 to co-operate with the bevelled ends 22 of the grippers. The next parts 32 of the walls are parallel and are adapted to engage the outer surfaces 23 of the grippers to maintain the grip on the tube. Finally, the Walls again taper inwardly and terminate in the roll-forming grooves. End pieces 33 are provided to complete the roll-forming grooves, but it is not necessary to extend these downwardly as it is not found necessary to grip the short sides of the tube.

As the edges curl round into a roll, the edges of the nicked corners of the tube and of the end plates respectively come together, one edge of each nick abutting against the other edge of the same nick, so as to form neatly mitred corners. The end plate, other than the rolls, lies fiat, with its plane below the rolls.

In some cases where the size of the roll is small itmay not be necessary to form the nicks so that a geometrically true mitre is formed, and in such cases the sides of the nicks may be straight. l/Vhere, however, the roll is of more or less large diameter the sides of the nicks may be correctly curved to form a closemitred joint. The formation and shape of such sides will be obvious and need not be set out herein.

In view of the manner of closing the end of the case, the importance, in the practical working of the invention, of the tipping on those sides-of the sheets which form'the -ends of the tube, and that it should be on one particular side ofthe sheet, can 'beappreciated.

To facilitate the rollingand to prevent the lifting 'of the end piece 15, *a rectangular plunger 34 is fitted in a corresponding-aperture at the top-of the-closing tool. The area of the plunger, in plan, is the area inside the I rol ls when the closing of the end has been accomplished. The slides 35 of the plunger are vertical and work as a sliding fit in the rectangular aperture in the top of the closing tool, and form the inside walls of the rollforming groove. The plunger is capableof moving vertically, its bottom face being kept always horizontal, and is normally kept at the bottom of its vertical range of movement by springs 36 of suitable strength.

When the closing tool begins its descent upon the end of the-tube resting upon the former20, the plunger 34 comes into contact with the end piece '15 of the ease. lt comes into contact beforethe closing tool has descended so far that the edges of the ends of the tube enter the final curving portion or groove 29 of the closing tool. The plunger 34; presses, with the strength of its springs, upon the end piece and keeps the end piece in close contact with the upper end of the former underneath the end piece, and prevents the end piece from buckling when the pressure of the closing tool comes-upon the edges of the end plate. i

When the closing tool has descended to the bottom of its travel and is raised again the pressure of the springs 36 in the plunger, act-- ing through the plunger on the end piece, keeps the partially formed case down until the closing tool has withdrawn far enough to ensure the end ofthe partially formed case being withdrawn from the inner curved portion of the closing tool.

It is obvious that the spring plunger may be replaced by a plunger operated positively by cams, cranks, or other mechanical devices, in such a manner that the plunger shall descend and grip the end piece before the roll-forming portion ofthe closing lJOOl'COlRQS into contact with the edges of the tube and end piece, and remain in contact with the end piece until the roll-forming portion of' the closing tool has been withdrawn sufiiciently to be free of the partially formed case. knocking-out device may be provided by any known method whereby the partially formed case would be freed from the plunger should the insides of the roll clip the plunger. Normally the partially formed case would be held by the grippers until the closing tool had been withdrawn sufiiciently far to free the closing tool and the plunger from the partially formed case. i V

One end of the case being formed, the pariSO tially formed case is removed from the former. For this purpose the grips when released by the closing tool are moved away from the former by the springs 28 a sufficient distance to free the partially formed case. The former with the base member 25 is then partially rotated on shaft 26-towards the right as seen in Figure 3 sufficiently to per.- mit of the partially formed case being with drawn clear of the closing tool and without fouling the tool or its guides. Or, the former may be arranged to permit of its being moved downward into a pit so as to come entirely out of the partially formed case (the latter meanwhile resting on stops) so that the partially formed case can be taken out from between the grippers by moving it horizontally. Or, the closing tool could be made torise to a sufficient height to permit of the partially formed case being lifted off the former. Or, the former could be arranged to slide horizontally from under the closing tool.

In order to facilitate the removal of the partially formed case from the former, an ejecting device may be provided extending upwardly through the former, and adapted to be raised by a hand lever, foot pedal or other convenient arrangement so as to lift the case a short distance whereby the case may then be readily removed by hand.

This may comprise a part carried on the former and co-operating with a part carried in the base member 25 and operated by any suitable means.

The former 20 may be formed as a cored iron casting and is provided at its bottom end with two or more pins or dowels which fit into holes provided in the base member 25 in order to locate it in the correct position with reference to the closing tool.

The partially formed case is now filled with tinplates by any convenient means, buffers and/or packing strips and/or sheets, as described in the earlier specifications or other wise, being used, if desired, to prevent damage to the corners of the case.

The former being removed from the closing machine the partially formed and completely filled case is now placed in the position formerly occupied by the former,

In the pivoted base member a number of transversely arranged steel rollers is provided which project slightly above the surface of the base and upon which the filled case is adapted to slide whereby its movement into position is facilitated. In order to locate the filled case in position a pair of longitudinally arranged flanges may be provided forming a groove in which the case is run. The position of the case in the groove may be located by stops which may fit into holes in the base.

The stops and flanges may be removable so as not to interfere with the former when such is in position, or the lower'end of the former may be shaped to accommodate such flanges and stops. v

It is obvious that if the grippers are put into action as they were in the first operation they will compress the partially formed case and may bulge the short sides of the partially formed case outwards.

This difliculty may be overcome by laying on the top ends of the plates as they stand on end in the partially formed case a strip of wood which just fills the opening of the partially formed case and is about inch to inch thick. This can be of any ordinary dry wood. In practice soft wood is found most suitable. Then the grippers come into action they press the sides of the partially formed case up against the strip of wood so that the strip of wood, which is resting upon the ends of the plates in the partially formed case, cannot be forced downwards. The ridges or bosses on the inside of the grippers assist in preventing the partially formed case from being forced down by the pressure of the closing tool. They are arranged to come just under or to make dents in the side of the strip of wood so as, in either case, to assist in preventing the partially formed case from being forced down.

The wooden strips also assist in preventing the bulging of the case and deformation of the short sides thereof when the case is gripped.

The sides of the partially formed case stand up about an inch above the strip of wood as it lies on the top of the plates.

An end plate is then put on top of the strip of wood and the closing tool is depressed and closes the second end of the partially formed case in exactly the same manner as that in which the first end of the partially formed case was closed.

The case can now be hermetically sealed by soldering all round the bottom of the rolls on the four sides of both ends of the case and by soldering the joins between the rollsthe This may be accommodated by the soft wood packing strip which will be slightly compressed. The position of the plunger in the recess may be adjusted by inserting packing piece of metal or by the provision of adjusting screws.

The inner case, with the contained plates,

is then placed inside an outer case, which may be made in exactly the same manner. It will be obvious that the dimensions of an outer case will be suitably larger than those set out above with reference to an inner case.

The inner case would usuallybe made of tinplate; the outer case would usually be made of blackplate of a stouter gauge than the tinplate of which the inner case would usually be formed.

Preferably the end of the inner case at which the strip of wood is located would be placed first in the outer case so that when the packing is completed there would be a strip of wood at each end of the plates. This would equalize the protection afforded to the plates by the strips of wood acting as buifers. Any other convenient arrangement of strips or buffers of wood may be adopted.

The outer case, where both inner and outer cases are used, can be made according to this invention, and the inner case may-be made according to the method the subject of the inventors previous applications or in any other manner producing a case of similar character. Or, vice versa, the inner case may be made according to the present invention and the outer case may be made in any other manner producing a case of similar character.

Instead of the former being vertical, it may facilitate the handling of the partially formed cases to have the former and the direction of travel of the closing tool horizontal, or inclined from the vertical at some intermediate angle. If the horizontal position is adopted, the former or case may rest on a table which may take the place of one of the jaws of the grippers and the other jaw may work on pivots or in vertical slides.

In some cases the first operation of closing the bottom end of the case may be efiected with the tube vertical, the subsequent end closing of the filled case being effected with the case horizontal.

To facilitate handling, the filled cases might be conveyed through an end closing machine whereby lifting of the case by the operator is eliminated.

The improved roll-closing, involving as it does, two plates, materially stiffens the ends of the package and also acts as a buffer when the ends of the case are subjected to blows, through impact by falls or otherwise.

Any design, stamped, printed, lithographed, stencilled, painted or aifixed, by paste or otherwise, to the end pieces are protected against being rubbed off owing to the fact that they lie inside or below a plane touching the outside of the rolls or beading. The makers name and brand can very conveniently be stamped upon the small end pieces and when the case is closed according to this invention the name and brand cannot well be removed without destroying the case.

Cases once opened cannot readily be closed again, and makers can be assured that the contents of the boxes cannot be tampered with en route without the traces of the operation being obvious.

As described above, grippers are only used on the sides of the partially and completely formed cases on. which the-long sides of the closing; tool operate. As the short. si'des'of the clbsingfltool' operate upon a-lengt-h which does not usually exceed two inches, itisn'ot' thoughti necessary to arrange for grippers. on

these short sides, but they obviously could be soarranged. it found necessary or desirable.

Instead of actuating. the grippers'by the roll-forming tool, independent means may be provided for adjusting the position of the gripper with regard totlie tube so as. to

the latter. Such means may be operated levers, cams or other appropriat'e'mechani'snr.

As stated above; it will be obvious thatthe dimensions of the outer case would be slightly larger thanthose of the inner case and the necessary parts of the machine,- such as; the closing tool, may be removable for-thein'ser tion'of a larger tool suitable for'thepurpose or, if desired, the outer case when formed according to the present invention, may be constructed on an independent machine of sultable' size.

In practice-theformer i's'liftedofi the'base on which it is positioned by dowels or'pins as above described and'th'e' jaws ofthegripmemben'by a flanged .end piece-consisting: in

mounting the tubular member upon' aformer with the marginal portions projecting" above the former, inserting the flanged end piece into said projectingiend portions, sothati-i't contacts with the former, grippingthetubr lar member laterally to prevent rela-ttive l'on'- gitudinal movement between the tubular member and former, and rolling together the flanges of the end piece and the marginal portions of the tubular member while holding the end piece in contact'with the former;

2. A method of closing the end of a con tainer having: the features claimed in claim 1,.and having the articles therein, sothat the marginalportions of the tubular member pr ojject beyond" the contents, which consists; in inserting a f1anged end piece into said pro jecting end portions so that it contacts=with said contents, gripping the tubular'member laterally upon the contents to prevent relative longitudinal movement betweenthe tubu'lar' member and the articles therein,- and rolling together the flanges of the end piece and the marginal portions of-thetubular member while holding" the end piece in contact with the articlestherein.

3. Apparatus for closing the end of a tubular member by an insertible flanged end piece comprising a displaceable roll forming die,

a former upon which the tubular member is adapted to be mounted and laterally displaceable gripping members for gripping the tubularmember laterally upon said former.

A 4;. Apparatus for closing the end of a tubular member by an insertible flanged end piece comprising a displaceable roll forming die having a pair of walls, a former upon which the tubular member is adapted to be mounted, 6 and laterally displaceable gripping members adapted to be engaged by the walls of the die upon the downward movement thereof to grip the tubular member upon the former.

, 5. Apparatus for closing the end of a tubu lar member by an insertible flanged end piece comprising a displaceable roll forming die having a pair of walls, a former upon which the tubular member is adapted to be mounted,

pivotally mounted gripping members adapted to be engaged by the walls of the die upon the downward movement thereof to grip the tubular member upon the formerand'springs for normally holding the gripping members away from the former.

6. Apparatus for closing the end of a tubular member by an insertible flanged end piece comprising a vertically displaceable roll forming die having a pair of walls, a pivotally mounted base plate, a former mounted so thereon and upon which the tubular member is adapted to be mounted, laterally displaceable gripping members pivoted to said base plate, said gripping members being adapted to be engaged by the walls of the die upon the downward movement thereof to grip the tubular member upon the former, and springs connected to the gripping members and the base plate to hold the gripping members normally away from the former.

40 7. Apparatus for closing the end of a tubular member of rectangular shape in cross section by an insertible flanged end piece comprising a vertically displaceable roll forming die having four rolls forming grooves arranged as a rectangle, a pair of parallel walls on said die extending below the roll forming grooves, a pivotally mounted base plate, 3 former of rectangular cross section mounted on the base plate and upon which the tubular member is adapted to be mounted, laterally displaceable gripping members pivoted to said base plate, said members being adapted to be engaged by the walls of the die upon downward movement thereof, to grip two sides of the tubular member upon the former,

and springs connected to the gripping members andthe base plate to hold the gripping members normally away from the former.

- In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

DAVID GEORGE. 

